Verb

zu|geben

to admit, to confess, to add

Er musste seinen Fehler zugeben.

He had to admit his mistake.

Gib noch etwas Salz zu.

Add a little more salt.

((sth.)) to admit sth. He had to admit his mistake.

((sth.)) ((to sth.)) to add sth. to sth. Add some salt to the soup.

Synonyms: gestehen, einräumen, hinzufügen; Antonyms: leugnen, bestreiten

From 'zu' (to, towards) + 'geben' (to give). Literally 'to give to', which extends to 'adding' something or 'giving in' to the truth, i.e., admitting.

Imagine you 'give' ('geben') your agreement 'to' ('zu') a fact you previously denied. That's admitting it.

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